Raluca Olaru Explained

Raluca Olaru
Fullname:Ioana Raluca Olaru
Residence:Bucharest, Romania
Birth Date:1989 3, df=y
Birth Place:Bucharest
Height:1.73 m
Turnedpro:2003
Retired:2024
Plays:Right-handed (two–handed backhand)
Careerprizemoney:US$ 1,770,957
Singlestitles:11 ITF
Highestsinglesranking:No. 53 (27 July 2009)
Australianopenresult:1R (2008, 2010)
Frenchopenresult:3R (2007)
Wimbledonresult:2R (2009, 2010)
Usopenresult:2R (2007, 2008)
Doublestitles:11 WTA, 15 ITF
Highestdoublesranking:No. 30 (31 January 2022)
Australianopendoublesresult:2R (2010, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022)
Frenchopendoublesresult:QF (2017)
Wimbledondoublesresult:3R (2021, 2022)
Usopendoublesresult:3R (2015, 2021)
Othertournamentsdoubles:yes
Wtachampionshipsdoublesresult:Alt (2021)
Olympicsdoublesresult:2R (2016, 2020)
Australianopenmixedresult:1R (2022)
Frenchopenmixedresult:2R (2019)
Wimbledonmixedresult:QF (2019)
Usopenmixedresult:QF (2018)
Team:yes

Ioana Raluca Olaru (born 3 March 1989) is a Romanian former professional tennis player. The winner of eleven singles and fifteen doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit,[1] Olaru reached one WTA Tour singles final, at the 2009 Gastein Ladies,[2] losing to Andrea Petkovic, in straight sets.[3] She also won eleven doubles titles on WTA Tour tournaments.

Olaru was a successful junior player. She was the runner–up in both junior singles and doubles at the 2005 French Open,[4] and captured the 2006 US Open doubles title along with Mihaela Buzărnescu. Her best professional Grand Slam result has been the third round of the 2007 French Open, when she defeated the 30th seed Julia Vakulenko, in straight sets, and lost to eventual runner–up, the seventh seed Ana Ivanovic.[5] Olaru reached her highest singles ranking, world No. 53, on 27 July 2009, and her best doubles ranking, No. 30, on 31 January 2022.

Olaru announced her retirement from tennis in June 2024.[6]

Personal life

Ioana Raluca Olaru resides in her hometown Bucharest.[7] Her parents, Adrian and Doina, run a convenience store together.[8] Her sister Cristina is 16 years older than Olaru, and lives in London. Olaru began playing tennis aged seven, and cites Kim Clijsters,[9] Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer as her role models. She graduated from school in 2007, and is fluent in English, Spanish and Romanian.

Tennis career

Raluca started her 2017 season at Shenzhen Open where she reached the final with Olga Savchuk, but they lost 1–6, 5–7 to Peng Shuai and Andrea Hlaváčková.The following week, Olaru with Olga Savchuk won the doubles title at the Hobart International, it was her sixth WTA Tour doubles title.

Playing style

Olaru considers being a fighter as her biggest asset. She cites clay as her favourite surface and backhand down the line as favourite shot, but she can play well on all surfaces and she likes mixing her game with drop shots. Olaru is currently coached by Adrian Gavrila, Adrian Cruciat and Artemon Apostu Efremov.

Performance timelines

Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.

Singles

Tournament ...2022SRW–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenA1RQ21RQ2AQ1A0 / 20–2
French Open3R1R1R1RQ1AQ1A0 / 42–4
WimbledonA1R2R2RQ1AQ1A0 / 32–3
US Open2R2R1RQ1AAA0 / 32–3
Win–loss3–21–41–41–20–00–00–00–00 / 126–12

Doubles

Tournament200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022SRW–LWin%
Grand Slam tournaments
style=text-align:leftAustralian OpenAAA1RA2R1RAA2R1R2R2R2R1R1R2R2R0 / 127–12
style=text-align:leftFrench OpenAAA1RA1RAAA1R1R1RQF1R1R1R2R1R0 / 114–11
style=text-align:leftWimbledonAAAAQ1AAA2R1R1R1R1R1R1Rstyle=color:#767676NH3R3R0 / 95–9
style=text-align:leftUS OpenAAAA1RAAAA1R3R1R1R2R2R1R3R1R0 / 106–10
style=text-align:leftWin–loss0–00–00–00–20–11–20–10–01–11–42–41–44–42–41–40–34–33–40 / 4222–42
National representation
Summer OlympicsNHANHANH2RNH2R2 / 22–2
WTA 1000
style=text-align:leftQatar / Dubai OpenNMSAAAAAAstyle=background:#afeeee1RAstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee2RAstyle=background:#ffebcdQFAAA0 / 43–4
style=text-align:leftIndian Wells OpenAAAAAAAAAAstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#ffebcdQFNHstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1R0 / 73–7
style=text-align:leftMiami OpenAAAAAAAAAAAstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#ffebcdQFstyle=color:#767676NHstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1R0 / 62–6
style=text-align:leftMadrid OpenNHAAAAAAstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee2RAAstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=color:#767676NHstyle=background:#afeeee2RA0 / 42–4
style=text-align:leftItalian OpenAAAAAAAAAAstyle=background:#afeeee1RAAAstyle=background:#afeeee1Rbgcolor=thistleFstyle=background:#afeeee1RA0 / 44–4
style=text-align:leftCanadian OpenAAAAAAAAAAstyle=background:#ffebcdQFAAAstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=color:#767676NHAA0 / 23–1
style=text-align:leftCincinnati OpenNMSAAAAAAAstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#ffebcdQFstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee1RAstyle=background:#afeeee1RA0 / 53–5
style=text-align:leftPan Pacific / Wuhan OpenAAAAAAAAAstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1RAstyle=background:#afeeee1RAstyle=background:#afeeee2RNH0 / 41–4
style=text-align:leftChina OpenNMSAAAstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee1RAstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1RNH0 / 52–5
Career statistics
200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022SRW–LWin%
Tournaments11261110619222423232122102012Career total: 224
TitlesCareer total:
FinalsCareer total:
Overall win-loss
Year-end ranking735554743644484336155

Mixed doubles

Tournament20152006201720182019202020212022SRW–L
style=text-align:leftAustralian OpenAAAAAAA0 / 00–0
style=text-align:leftFrench OpenAAAA2Rstyle=color:#767676NHA0 / 11–1
style=text-align:leftWimbledon3R1R2R2RQFstyle=color:#767676NHA0 / 56–5
style=text-align:leftUS OpenAA2RQF2Rstyle=color:#767676NHA0 / 34–3
style=text-align:leftWin–loss2–10–12–23–24–30–00–00 / 911–9

Significant finals

Premier-Mandatory/Premier-5 tournaments

Doubles: 1 (runner-up)

WTA Tour finals

Doubles: 24 (11 titles, 13 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam
WTA 1000 (0–1)
WTA 500 (1–2)
WTA 250 (10–10)
Finals by surface
Hard (7–5)
Clay (4–7)
Grass (0–1)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Jul 2008Budapest Grand Prix, HungaryTier IIIClay Vanessa Henke Alizé Cornet
Janette Husárová		7–6(7–5), 1–6, [6–10]
Win1–1Oct 2008Tashkent Open, UzbekistanTier IVHard Olga Savchuk Nina Bratchikova
Kathrin Wörle		5–7, 7–5, [10–7]
Win2–1Feb 2011Mexican Open, MexicoInternationalHard Mariya Koryttseva Arantxa Parra Santonja
Lourdes Domínguez Lino		5–7, 7–5, [10–7]
Loss2–2Apr 2013Katowice Open, PolandInternationalClay (i) Valeria Solovyeva Lara Arruabarrena
Lourdes Domínguez Lino		4–6, 5–7
Win3–2Jun 2013Nuremberg Cup, GermanyInternationalClay Valeria Solovyeva Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Květa Peschke		2–6, 7–6(7–3), [11–9]
Loss3–3May 2014Nuremberg Cup, GermanyInternationalClay Shahar Pe'er Michaëlla Krajicek
Karolína Plíšková		0–6, 6–4, [6–10]
Loss3–4Jul 2014Baku Cup, AzerbaijanInternationalHard Shahar Pe'er Alexandra Panova
Heather Watson		2–6, 6–7(3–7)
Win4–4Oct 2014Linz Open, AustriaInternationalHard (i) Anna Tatishvili Annika Beck
Caroline Garcia		6–2, 6–1
Loss4–5May 2015Nuremberg Cup, GermanyInternationalClay Lara Arruabarrena Chan Hao-ching
Anabel Medina Garrigues		4–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss4–6Apr 2016Rabat Grand Prix, MoroccoInternationalClay Tatjana Maria3–6, 0–6
Win5–6Oct 2016Tashkent Open, Uzbekistan (2)InternationalHard İpek Soylu Demi Schuurs
Renata Voráčová		7–5, 6–3
Loss5–7Jan 2017Shenzhen Open, ChinaInternationalHard Olga Savchuk Andrea Hlaváčková
Peng Shuai		1–6, 5–7
Win6–7Jan 2017Hobart International, AustraliaInternationalHard Olga Savchuk Gabriela Dabrowski
Yang Zhaoxuan		0–6, 6–4, [10–5]
Win7–7Jul 2017Bucharest Open, RomaniaInternationalClay Irina-Camelia Begu Elise Mertens
Demi Schuurs		6–3, 6–3
Win8–7May 2018Rabat Grand Prix, MoroccoInternationalClay Anna Blinkova Georgina García Pérez
Fanny Stollár		6–4, 6–4
Win9–7May 2018Strasbourg International, FranceInternationalClay Mihaela Buzărnescu Nadiia Kichenok
Anastasia Rodionova		7–5, 7–5
Loss9–8Sep 2018Tashkent Open, UzbekistanInternationalHard Irina-Camelia Begu Olga Danilović
Tamara Zidanšek		5–7, 3–6
Loss9–9Oct 2018Kremlin Cup, RussiaPremierHard (i) Darija Jurak Alexandra Panova
Laura Siegemund		2–6, 6–7(2–7)
Loss9–10Aug 2020Prague Open, Czech RepublicInternationalClay Monica Niculescu Lucie Hradecká
Kristýna Plíšková		2–6, 2–6
Loss9–11Sep 2020Italian Open, ItalyPremier 5Clay Anna-Lena Friedsam2–6, 2–6
Win10–11Mar 2021St. Petersburg Trophy, RussiaWTA 500Hard (i) Nadiia Kichenok Kaitlyn Christian
Sabrina Santamaria		2–6, 6–3, [10–8]
Loss10–12Jun 2021Bad Homburg Open, GermanyWTA 250Grass Nadiia Kichenok Darija Jurak
Andreja Klepač		3–6, 1–6
Win11–12Aug 2021Chicago Open, United StatesWTA 250Hard Nadiia Kichenok Lyudmyla Kichenok
Makoto Ninomiya		7–6(8–6), 5–7, [10–8]
Loss11–13Oct 2021Kremlin Cup, RussiaWTA 500Hard (i) Nadiia Kichenok Jeļena Ostapenko
Kateřina Siniaková		2–6, 6–4, [8–10]

WTA Challenger finals

Doubles: 1 (runner-up)

ITF Circuit finals

Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments

Singles: 18 (11 titles, 7 runner–ups)

ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Aug 2004ITF Iași, Romania10,000Clay Monica Niculescu6–7, 0–6
Win1–1Apr 2005ITF Herceg Novi, Serbia10,000Clay Miljana Adanko7–5, 7–6(2)
Win2–1Jul 2005ITF Bucharest, Romania10,000Clay Anna Bastrikova6–3, 6–2
Win3–1Aug 2005ITF Bucharest, Romania10,000Clay Mădălina Gojnea7–6(3), 7–5
Win4–1May 2006ITF Bucharest, Romania10,000Clay Sorana Cîrstea1–6, 6–4, 6–1
Win5–1May 2006ITF Rabat, Morocco10,000Clay Samia Medjahdi6–2, 2–6, 7–5
Loss5–2Jul 2006ITF Mont-de-Marsan, France25,000Clay Nina Bratchikova4–6, 6–4, 0–6
Win6–2Nov 2006ITF Toronto, Canada25,000Hard(i) Carly Gullickson6–3, 6–1
Win7–2Apr 2007ITF Torrent, Spain50,000Clay Andrea Petkovic6–4, 5–7, 6–4
Loss7–3Apr 2007ITF Catania, Italy25,000Clay Darya Kustova3–6, 6–2, 3–6
Win8–3Jul 2008Contrexéville Open, France50,000Clay Stéphanie Foretz6–4, 6–2
Win9–3Jun 2009Open de Marseille, France100,000Clay Maša Zec Peškirič6–7(4), 7–5, 6–4
Win10–3Jul 2011ITF Bad Saulgau, Germany25,000Clay Tatjana Maria6–3, 3–6, 7–5
Loss10–4Apr 2012ITF Pomezia, Italy10,000Clay Aliaksandra Sasnovich6–0, 1–6, 1–6
Loss10–5Oct 2012ITF Brasília, Brazil25,000Clay Timea Bacsinszky5–7, 2–6
Loss10–6Nov 2012ITF Asunción, Paraguay25,000Clay Verónica Cepede Royg7–5, 6–7(7), 2–6
Loss10–7Jan 2013ITF Eilat, İsrael10,000Hard Alla Kudryavtseva7–6(4), 3–6, 2–6
Win11–7Mar 2013ITF Antalya, Turkey10,000Clay Jovana Jakšić6–3, 7–5

Doubles: 31 (15 titles, 16 runner–ups)

ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Jun 2004ITF Brașov, Romania10,000Clay Lenore Lăzăroiu Corina Corduneanu
Alexandra Iacob		4–6, 5–7
Loss0–2Aug 2004ITF Timișoara, Romania10,000Clay Lenore Lăzăroiu Sorana Cîrstea
Gabriela Niculescu		1–6, 6–2, 2–6
Win1–2Sep 2004ITF Cluj-Napoca, Romania10,000Clay Corina Corduneanu Veronika Raimrová
Anamaria Sere		4–6, 6–0, 6–4
Win2–2Apr 2005ITF Herceg Novi, Serbia10,000Clay Antonia Xenia Tout Aleksandra Lukič
Patricia Vollmeier		6–4, 4–1 ret.
Win3–2July 2005ITF Arad, Romania10,000Clay Corina Corduneanu Anna Bastrikova
Vasilisa Davydova		6–1, 6–4
Win4–2Aug 2005ITF Bucharest, Romania10,000Clay Corina Corduneanu Bianca Ioana Bonifate
Sorana Cîrstea		6–1, 6–1
Win5–2Apr 2006ITF Makarska, Croatia10,000Clay Antonia Xenia Tout Johanna Larsson
Nadja Roma		6–4, 7–5
Loss5–3May 2006ITF Bucharest, Romania10,000Clay Simona Matei Sorana Cîrstea
Gabriela Niculescu		4–6, 6–0, 6–7(3)
Loss5–4May 2006ITF Rabat, Morocco10,000Clay María Fernanda Álvarez Terán Bahia Mouhtassine
Émilie Bacquet		w/o
Win6–4July 2006ITF Mont-de-Marsan, France25,000Clay Margalita Chakhnashvili Akgul Amanmuradova
Nina Bratchikova		7–5, 1–6, 6–1
Loss6–5Aug 2006Ladies Open Hechingen, Germany25,000Clay Kristina Antoniichuk Eva Fislová
Stanislava Hrozenská		3–6, 7–6(3), 3–6
Loss6–6Nov 2006ITF Toronto, Canada25,000Hard (i) Heidi El Tabakh Angelika Bachmann
Hana Šromová		4–6, 1–6
Win7–6Sep 2010ITF Biella, Italy100,000Clay Mariya Koryttseva Andreja Klepač
Aurélie Védy		7–5, 6–4
Loss7–7Sep 2010Open de Saint Malo, France100,000Clay Mariya Koryttseva Petra Cetkovská
Lucie Hradecká		4–6, 2–6
Loss7–8Sep 2011Sofia Cup, Bulgaria100,000Clay Alexandra Cadanțu Nina Bratchikova
Darija Jurak		4–6, 5–7
Win8–8Jan 2012ITF Innisbrook, United States25,000Clay Darya Kustova Gioia Barbieri
Nadejda Guskova		6–3, 6–1
Loss8–9Feb 2012Copa Cali, Colombia100,000Clay Alexandra Cadanțu Karin Knapp
Mandy Minella		4–6, 3–6
Win9–9Apr 2012ITF Civitavecchia, Italy25,000Clay Elena Bogdan Claudia Giovine
Marina Shamayko		6–3, 7–5
Win10–9Apr 2012ITF Tunis, Tunisia25,000Clay Elena Bogdan Inés Ferrer Suárez
Richèl Hogenkamp		6–4, 6–3
Loss10–10May 2012ITF Casablanca, Morocco25,000Clay Elena Bogdan Olga Savchuk
Renata Voráčová		1–6, 4–6
Loss10–11Jul 2012Open Romania Ladies100,000Clay Elena Bogdan Irina-Camelia Begu
Alizé Cornet		2–6, 0–6
Win11–11Aug 2012ITF Mamaia, Romania25,000Clay Elena Bogdan Danka Kovinić
Tadeja Majerič		7–6(4), 6–3
Loss11–12Sep 2012ITF Sofia, Bulgaria25,000Clay Marina Melnikova Katarzyna Piter
Barbara Sobaszkiewicz		5–7, 1–6
Win12–12Oct 2012ITF Brasília, Brazil25,000Clay Elena Bogdan Timea Bacsinszky
Julia Cohen		6–3, 3–6, [10–8]
Win13–12Nov 2012ITF Buenos Aires, Argentina25,000Clay Elena Bogdan María Fernanda Álvarez Terán
Maria Fernanda Alves		1–6, 6–2, [10–7]
Win14–12Jan 2013ITF Eilat, Israel10,000Hard Alla Kudryavtseva Ilona Kremen
Pemra Özgen		6–3, 6–3
Loss14–13Nov 2013GB Pro-Series Barnstaple, UK75,000Hard (i) Tamira Paszek Naomi Broady
Kristýna Plíšková		3–6, 6–3, [5–10]
Win15–13Jun 2015Ilkley Trophy, UK50,000Grass Xu Yifan An-Sophie Mestach
Demi Schuurs		6–3, 6–4
Loss15–14Aug 2015Vancouver Open, Canada100,000Hard Anna Tatishvili Johanna Konta
Maria Sanchez		6–7(5), 4–6
Loss15–15Sep 2016Neva Cup, Russia100,000Hard (i) Alena Tarasova Maria Marfutina
Anna Morgina		2–6, 3–6
Loss15–16May 2017Open de Cagnes-sur-Mer, France100,000Clay Renata Voráčová Chang Kai-chen
Hsieh Su-wei		5–7, 1–6

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Players Stats Ioana Raluca Olaru . 21 April 2010 . 24 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220824080708/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/page/Player/Stats/0,,12781~11056,00.html . dead .
  2. [WTA Tour]
  3. [WTA Tour|Sony Ericsson WTA Tour]
  4. Web site: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Players Info (Awards) Ioana Raluca Olaru . 21 April 2010 . 29 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220929102258/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/player/ioana-raluca-olaru_2257889_11056 . dead .
  5. Web site: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Players Activity Ioana Raluca Olaru . 21 April 2010 . 24 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220824080707/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/page/Player/Activity/0,,12781~11056,00.html . dead .
  6. Web site: Kiarash. Amir. 28 June 2024 . Lovitură pentru tenisul românesc: Raluca Olaru, retragere oficială după o carieră cu lacrimi în ochi. 29 June 2024. Adevărul. ro.
  7. http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=100048678 Ioana Raluca Olaru
  8. [WTA Tour]
  9. http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/11056 WTA Tour | Players | Info (Biography) | Ioana Raluca Olaru

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Raluca Olaru".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.